Change.org - Petition for - "allowing bicycles in BMTC buses"

[Anil Kadsur]

Bikers,

Request you to sign this petition, this city needs your support and do spread the word.... With all your support i have decided to fight it out till we reach the goal...."Respect and space for fellow Cyclists" 

one step at a time....

https://www.change.org/p/commissioner-bmtc-allowing-bicycles-in-bmtc-buses

Heartfelt thank you for your support.....

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

[Sreepathi Pai]

I hope you get those racks in front of buses, they're super
convenient. That trailer rack also looks great.

One aspect to note is that some of the fixing attachments, the long
ones that go over the tire to the fork, don't work with
mudguards/fenders/front racks/baskets.

This one is a model that works:

http://www.bartabus.com/Bicycles.htm

(see the pics for step #3)

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Sreepathi Pai

[Pradeep Naidu]

Signed the petition Anil. Actually a very good initiative.. We are all with you. 

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Pradeep Naidu S

[Opendro]

Come on, Anil. Putting the bike in BMTC bus is against the dignity of a biker ;)

[Chidambaran Subramanian]

Not sure how much this will help really. More useful is increasing safe bikeable space on the roads.

At the max a service like this will be used by an ultra-minority.

Folks like us would rather ride throughout.  And folks who actually might need something like this will not probably afford a volvo ride.

But it is important to create dedicated lanes/roads where people can cycle safely.

Chiddu

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[O p e n d r o]

More space for bikers - that is a catch 22 situation. We need more bikers to claim more space and we need more space to induct more bikers into the roads!

[Chidambaran Subramanian]

Reduce the amount of space for cars. Increase it for cycles.

[vivek]

@Anil, I know for sure you are not going to use this facility. What made you bring up the petition?

Regards,

Vivek

[Jayateerth Kanihal]

Nice Anil, signed the petition too.

Thanks
Jayateerth

[Anil Kadsur]

Thank you Pradeep, Ram and Jayateerth for signing the petition and sharing it too.

@vivek,

No i will not use this facility, till date from the time i started cycling never used anything like that.  I feel some where we need to start fighting for our rights, let me do whatever i can with the support all the awesome bikers in here and in bangalore.

@Opendro,

"We need more bikers to claim more space and we need more space to induct more bikers into the roads!"

I strongly believe "allowing bikes in BMTC buses" will take the cycling in the city to next level. Will also be a solution to adding more bikers on road.  

"Come on, Anil. Putting the bike in BMTC bus is against the dignity of a biker ;)"   hehehe....i agree, till they reach the 10% of your belief/fitness level, till then they need this support.

@chiddu,

"Not sure how much this will help really".

Honestly no one will be able to answer that question, unless and until we try. What this petition for sure will serve is there are so many people who are interested in THIS and that has to be an alarming number for the Government to consider it.

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

--

[Prashanth Chengi]

Signed and shared. It's definitely a step in the right direction. It would certainly push people into trying to bike at least part of the way for their work commute. Also, many people may not have shower/changing facilities at their work places, so might not want to get all sweaty due to biking, so having the ability to at least do a portion of the distance by bus might entice/convince more people to get on their bikes.  

Anil, considering that this is a facility you might not even use, it's a very nice initiative. Wish you luck with the petition and may it prove fruitful! 

/Prashanth

[Ravindra BR]

bmtc is fine i'll also sign what about metro is it already allowed

--

[ashutosh tripathi]

signed
bikes should be allowed in buses as well as metro. At the least it would show the level of acceptance for cycling  in bangalore, and how easy it is to carry it around.
People might start considering it as an alternative mean of transport.

On Monday, 1 December 2014 23:51:31 UTC+5:30, Truck driver wrote:

[Chidambaran Subramanian]

These are at best cosmetic measures. A handful of people will use it. But of course you can argue that every small thing matters, but what needs to be done is more areas for bicycles.

BTW there was an article yesterday that Commercial St and Brigade st are going to be out of bound for motorists.

That was long overdue.

[kiran]

As Opendro mentioned they should provide a lane for bicycle, they try to do this for Autorickshaw.

 

I feel Kundalahall, ITPL area is perfect to implement now a  separated lane for bicyclist just like Autos.  I see people complaining to BTP on there facebook page that they took 50mins to travel by car from Brigage metropolis to office near Inorbit mall, and its just 4.5kms..  (Decathlon is just a stone throw away from Brigade metropolis

I see lot of bicycle commuters travelling in the opposite direction after BTP converted some of the roads to oneway.  Bike lane will provide safety and also will help lot of people to shift from car to bicycle. 

[vivek]

Anil,

I've signed the petition. I sincerely hope it gets implemented and people start using the facility.

Regards,

Vivek

[Johnny Jacob]

On Wed Dec 03 2014 at 10:20:47 AM Chidambaran Subramanian <chi...@gmail.com> wrote:

These are at best cosmetic measures. A handful of people will use it. But of course you can argue that every small thing matters, but what needs to be done is more areas for bicycles.

BTW there was an article yesterday that Commercial St and Brigade st are going to be out of bound for motorists.

Yay!

[akash mahakode]

Hi Anil,

I also signed the petition. Moreover, it should be free of cost otherwise BMTC will charge extra for carry bicycles.

-Akash

[Naresh V.]

The bike lanes were tried at the one place (Jayanagar) where I hoped it'd not be another waste of tax money and look at what they are today: crores spent on glorified parking lots.

The bike rack mechanism, if installed on Volvos and doesn't get misused for other luggage, it's definitely welcome. 

[kiran]

The Autorickshaw lane is not like bike lanes in Jayanagar.  Its 5 feet of steel barricade separating the lanes.  You can see the picture 

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/Auto-Drivers-Sceptical-About-Separate-Lanes/2014/10/09/article2468245.ece

[Santosh]

I think this might encourage more people to use public transport to office as they can ride till the nearest bus stand and then travel by bus further.

 

-Santosh 

 

[O p e n d r o]

Again, this is just not feasible. Even if 10% of the bus commuters come with bike, the racks will be full.

Having said that, I do hope, metro comes up with separate coaches with big seats where cyclists can take at least a folding cycle and ticket charges can be made higher for such seats.

[Opendro]

That is another way of looking... I pray more cars on road. Once the commute average speed is about 7 kmph, then the incentive to walk to work increases. Most people can walk 7km in an hour :-P

So, please... more cars on the road!

[Chidambaran Subramanian]

On Wed, Dec 3, 2014 at 12:14 PM, Opendro <ope...@gmail.com> wrote:

That is another way of looking... I pray more cars on road. Once the commute average speed is about 7 kmph, then the incentive to walk to work increases.

It takes discipline to walk. Bypass surgery is easier ;)

 

Most people can walk 7km in an hour :-P

So, please... more cars on the road!

On Wednesday, December 3, 2014 10:51:31 AM UTC+5:30, kiran wrote:

I see people complaining to BTP on there facebook page that they took 50mins to travel by car from Brigage metropolis to office near Inorbit mall, and its just 4.5kms.. 

--

[Anil Kadsur]

Friends,

Thank you for all the awesome support by signing and sharing it.  Less than 40 hrs since it started crossed 1,000 signs.

A good start i should say.

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

[Anil Kadsur]

Bikers,

I know some of you are working for bigger organization (mean more number of people working....) would you mind circulating internally (through that internal mail circulation...) and help us getting more people signed. 

thank you.

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

[Naveen Mahadeva]

I am not sure if its a good idea, Anil. You want to carry a bicycle inside a crowded bus? . I understand if this was inside a metro train as you will have plenty of space inside, a bus i don think so. You should not be making it hard for people to get in and out of the bus as well. 

If this is like carrying a bike on a rack mounted on the bus, then that works well . All in for that.. 

This will also increase the "Eshtu ee cycle-ge?" questions. :D

~Naveen

[Chidambaran Subramanian]

Naveen, with the bus fares these days

Eshtu ee bus ticketu ? is more relevant

[Prashanth Chengi]

Er, Naveen,  the idea is indeed to carry bikes on racks mounted on the front and backs of buses. It's commonplace in many countries, and allows for up to six bikes to be transported on each bus. 

While it doesn't obstruct people from getting in or out or prompt 'Esttu ee cycle-ge' questions, it might mean slightly more delays, as the bus has to wait while the biker secures the bike on the rack when boarding, and again wait when he/she takes the bike off the rack, after alighting.  Modern rack designs make it possible to very easily and quickly secure bikes, without the need for any external cords, ropes or locks, so even that is not really a significant deterrent.  It would be really fantastic if BMTC allows bikes on buses.

/Prashanth

[Anil Kadsur]

@ Naveen,

"I am not sure if its a good idea, Anil."

I am completely convinced it is a brilliant idea, what is challenge is selling this idea to them and make them understand and get implemented.  That can be really a time consuming and a marathon task.

@ Chiddu,

I agree with you, all probability in the days to come price has to drop.

@Prashanth,

It has to be that way, at BMTC earlier 'lack of will' was the only thing missing nothing else, as this city is growing they have to wake up, otherwise it is like the way city is building Metro when it was needed is at least 10 years before.

 

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

[maheshv]

if you take one look at most of the Volvo buses plying any route, you will see scratches and dents.

You really want to risk your bike in front of the bus in stop and go traffic?

This is absurd.

I carry a Brompton or bike friday inside the bus and it works well with "mostly" no extra cost and it is safe.

[Anil Kadsur]

Mahesh,

i completely agree with you..... please do not mistake me, it is not for people with "Brompton" bikes....it is for someone like me who ride 'Mybike'. It is for this city not for the elite.

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

--

[maheshv]

How many people ride "mybike". ? the point was not about the bike.

The point was multimodal commute is possible with folders (any folder at that) rather than pushing for full size bikes and risking damage to the bike.

I wouldn't bet a 'mybike' on a rack either for that matter.

[Opendro]

Damage to the bike is least of my concern. I used to carry my cycle on the bus in school days on many counts. The bus handyman would lift the bicycle to the roof rack and stack up all the bicycles in an order of destination. It is not that easy to damage a bike. All my bikes at home (one road bike, one MTB and one hybrid) have endured all kinds of misuse.

Having said that, I still stick to my earlier point that putting the bike in BMTC bus is below the dignity of a cyclist, plainly because BMTC is not faster or not more convenient than a bicycle. However, we can probably have such racks on BMTC buses which ply on a route longer than, say, 15 km and they can put a restriction of the minimum distance the commuter has to travel if he is to be allowed to load his bike.

Anil, don't worry. I still signed the petition, because you had proven me wrong many times in the past. I do hope that you prove me wrong here too :)

[Prashanth Chengi]

Please see this pic of my own bike, on the rear rack of a bus. 

https://flic.kr/p/q21Tpz

Unless the bus rolls over, or a truck or another bus rear ends this bus, I can't think of a way my bike could even get scratched.  Non SUV cars are actually too low to hit the bike, even if they rear end it (the floor of the bus is lowered, in this pic). The rack that you see here is an old style rack which supports two bikes.  Modern racks are even more space efficient, secure and easy to use than this one. I wouldn't worry about the safety of bikes at all.

/Prashanth

[anand raman]

I too signed the petition hoping my scepticism will be proven wrong. There are (atleast IMHO) far more important things to fight for / chaneg people. 

in no specific order

>> Getting the worst polluters off the road is perhaps the first one. As quality of air improves more people will be attracted to the streets 

>> Forcing civic authorities to care about road edges as much as they do about the center of the road (when they do)

>> (a bit presumptuous on my part) Encourage folks especially in the ORR / koramangla stretch to bike it out; especially when their offices are just down the road. 

anand

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[Karthick Gururaj]

Hi Anand,

I agree this should be given priority:

>> Getting the worst polluters off the road is perhaps the first one. As quality of air improves more people will be attracted to the streets 

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a user-friendly system in place to report offenders (via public participation). Had tried reporting offenders (with pictures) to BTP, but BTP asked me to approach PCB.. I didn't follow up after that. Air pollution must be one of the top-most concerns of a commuter.

Anil: sorry for hijacking the thread, I signed the petition too :)

- Karthick

[anand raman]

Individual efforts though well intentioned fails in an unresponsive ecosystem. Perhaps the joint mass of the cycling community can bring about that change

a

[Anil Kadsur]

Mahesh,

thank you, i got your point, i do understand, i do not deny that...."the point was not about the bike." i completely agree to this.

How many people ride "mybike". ? 

what do you think is the number?

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

[maheshv]

To answer the question of "what do you think is the number?"

Answer Many

BUT

How many people ride mybike who would like to travel in a Volvo and who wont mind if the bike gets damaged in transit - very few. The so called elite class?

How many people would love to carry their bikes inside the bus ? - Many

[Anil Kadsur]

@Opendro,

"we can probably have such racks on BMTC buses which ply on a route longer than, say, 15 km and they can put a restriction of the minimum distance the commuter has to travel if he is to be allowed to load his bike."

It is very good input, will keep in mind, i agree to most of the things you wrote.

@Prashanth,

Thank you for the click.

@Anand,

I too agree those are more important to fight for it.  However i do not want to break my head for anything other than cycle related, i just cannot put in time where my heart is not there in that.

"As quality of air improves more people will be attracted to the streets"

Agreed, it is a catch 22 situation....to that extent Cycle Day's open street games on blocked street gives them them taste of it. Still there is lack of will from present stake holders/govt to this to next level and support it big time.

"Perhaps the joint mass of the cycling community can bring about that change"

Do not you think this particular petition is kind of heading in that direction, a baby step.....

Thank you all for signing the petition, request you if possible do circulate internally at your work place to get more people sign the petition.

 

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

[Devendra S]

Your petition fell short of 2500 mark. Let us revive the push.